Refrigerating apparatus



Patented Mar. `20, 1945 l REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Martin J. Goulooze, Grand Rapids, Mich.,`assign' or to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation,

Detroit,

Micha a corporation of Maryland Application J lily 28, '1941, Serial No. 404,272

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to reirigerating apparatus and to a method of making such apparatus.

` One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved method of making a trim panel pointed ribs on the opposite surface to thereby provide a rigid panel of thin metal.

'Another object of my invention is to utilize thin metal of .010 of an inch in thickness r less for a refrigerator panel and to form said metal with a serrated surface and in so doing draw the metal between th-e points along the serrated' surface to thereby work harden the metal to provide a rigid panel of such thin metal.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved trim panel for refrigerators.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a refrigerator cabinet embodying features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end View in cross section of a trim panel embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method used for rolling the trim panel to in-A crease its rigidity; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rollers used to roll the trim panel into-its rigid form.

Shown in the drawing is a refrigerator cabinet of th household type. The cabinet 20 comprises an inner metal casing, shell, or liner 22 within an outer metal casing, 'or shell 24 with the walls thereof in spaced relation for the interposition of heat insulation material 25 therebetween. The inner shell or liner 22 forms the walls oi' a food storage compartment 25. Access opening 21 is formed in the front wall .to compartment 26 closed by a door 29.

The outer casing 24 is formed with an inwardly turned portion 30 extending peripherally to the door opening and forms a portion of the front wall of the cabinet. The front wall portion 30 is formed with extended metal that extends reversely, as at 32, to form the front Wall of double vsitioned along the other vwan thickness together with a portionai length of the outer side wall, as at 33. The extended portion is turned from the side wall to form a section 34 in spaced-parallel relation to the front wall 30. A pocket 35 is formed between section 34 and the front Wall. The section 34 extends a short distance beyond the edge of the front wall.

The inner liner or casing v22 is formed with a lateral flange 31 extending peripherally adjacent the door opening 21. The marginal edge 39 of the ange is bent at right angles to extend rearwardly from the portion 31. 'The portion 31 is in planular alinement with the section 34 outer shell with their edges terminating in spaced apart relation.

A breaker strip 40 extends between the inner and outer casings. One edge of the breaker strip is confined within the pocket 35 and its opposite edge lies iiush against the lateraliiange 31. The breaker strip may be made of plastic, fibrous material, Bakelite or any non-hydroscopic, nonmetallic material. Similar breaker strips are posides of the cabinet on the front` wall adjacent the opening 21 thereof, and immediately above the food storage compartment atthe top of the cabinet, and also immediately below the food storage compartment. Since the principle of attaching the breaker strips to the cabinet and the principle of attaching the other breaker strips are the same, shown in detail the breaker strip it it is attached.

there is only and the way In attaching the breaker strip it has been found that Where the liner and lateral flange are coated with vitreous enamel that threading of'screws therein caused chipping of the nate 'this and provide for means of securing the breaker strip thereto, clips 42 are attached at spaced intervals or positions to the edge 39 of the lateral flange. The clips 42 are formed with a U-shaped section comprising sides 44 and 45 n adapted to embrace opposite side of the iianges edge 39. The side 44 is extended at right angles forming a locking section 41 which is pierced and the sides of the opening are flared to provide threadable engagement for the shank of screw 42. To center and locate the clips 4| along the edge 39 so as to be in alinement withxa respective bored passage in theI breaker strip for the reception of the screws 42, the edge 39 is formed with a plurality of spaced slots 43. The side 45 of clip4l is punched with a semi-circular opening edge ared inwardly, 49 is receivable ineach of the clips are a respective slot 43. Thus deflnitely located by the enof the l enamel. To elimiy withits as at 49. The ared edge sagement of edge I in slot for threadably receiving a respective screw 42 in fastening the adjacent edge of the breaker strip to the lateral flange. In the drawing the slots 43 are shown elliptical, it will be obvious that they may be formed either square, round, oblong, or where desired instead of slots there mayr be a series of indentations into which the flared edge may be received for the purpose of centering the clips.

The opposite edge` of the breaker strip is confined in pocket 35 and secured by screws 42 to the section 3l. By this arrangement the breaker strip is securely attached to the inner and outer casing, while at the same time the inner casing or liner 22 is securely supported by the outer casing 24.

To conceal the screw heads and provide a protecting cover forthe breaker strip I have provided a cover 50 which extends across the front face of the breaker strip. The cover 50 is formed of thin gauge metal, preferably .010 inch or less in thickness, and which has a low heat conductive value as stainless steel and the like.' One edge of the cover member 50 is inserted in the pocket 35 to be frictionally held between the front wall and breaker strip. The opposite edge is bent to extend around the edge of the breaker strip and insertable between the lateral flange and breaker strip. The breaker strip is longitudinally grooved with an inclined side against which frictionally engages the marginal edge 52 of the cover member. This arrangement permits a self locking of the cover over the breaker strip.

The door 29 may be of any desired construction and may have secured thereto a gasket 51 for engagement with the cabinet front.

In order to utilize thin metal for the panel 50 and to retain it uniformly in position and to aid in the assembly of the panel to the refrigerator cabinet, I have work hardened said panel to add materially to its rigidity. By work harden is herein meant that the panel is worked to increase its hardness by drawing the metal as hereinafter described.

The cover member or trim panel is formed or bent as shown in Fig. 3 to increase its rigidity. As will be noted, one side or surface is provided with corrugated rounded protuberances while the opposite side or surface is serrated and presents a plurality of points or ridges 14. will be noted that opposite sides of the 50 present different surfaces.

The member 50 is formed or rolled by rollers 10 and 80 which may be driven by any suitable device (not shown). The member 50 is formed from nat stock 90 held in position by rollers 04. The roller 18 is provided with a series of convex portions 98 and recesses |00. Roller 80 is provided with a series of concave portions |04 for receiving convex portions 80 and also provided with pointed member portions |08 to be received in recesses |00. When the ilat stock 90 passes through the rollers 10 and 00 it assumes the shape shown in Fig. 3. In passing through the rollers there is a drawing of the metal by points |00 extending into recesses |00. 'Ihis drawing does not to any appreciable extent lessen the width of the iat stock but actually draws the metal 90 are formed.

thinner as the points 14 This work hardens the metal until Asuch thin strips may be used satisfactorily w'ithout a buckled appearance and enables the as,- sembly of such strips to the cabinet without un# y due difliculty.

the outer face It will therefore be apparent that I have pro-- vided an improved trim element for refrigerator cabinets and have produced such panel in a new and improved manner.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be -apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claim. Y

I claim:

A cabinet construction comprising an outer casing and an inner liner arranged in spaced apart relation, said casing having a pocket and a flange extending toward the liner, said liner having a V flange extending toward the casing and a rearwardly directed portion extending fromgthe liner ange with both of said flanges being positioned on substantially the same plane, a non-metallic breaker strip bridging the space between said flanges and having one edge thereof positioned in said pocket, means engaging said rearwardly directed portion and secured to the breaker strip for supporting the breaker strip in engagement with said flanges, a thin covering strip of sheet material of low heat conductive value formed to present a series of longitudinal convex portions separated by, recesses on one surface thereof and a series of concave portions connected together by ridge portions on the opposite surface thereof, said covering strip extending across and covering the outer'face of said breaker strip with one edge thereof being positioned in said pocket between the breaker strip and one wall of 'said pocket and the other edge thereof bent around an edge of 'said breaker strip so that said bent edge of saidl the flange of covering strip is disposed between said liner and the inner face of said breaker strip. said breaker strip being providedwith a longitudinal groove on its inner face for the reception of the marginal edge of said bent edge portion of the covering strip for irictionally and releasably locking said covering strip to 'said breaker strip, said ridge portions of said covering strip engaging of said breaker strip.

MARTIN J. GOULOOZE. 

